Captain Harshaw brought the Golden Kite down to rest as Amanda hurried to the wreck. Her heart was torn between her desire to run to her sister's aid and the need of the people already here.

I can't just turn my back on them, she thought. They needed her medical training and saving lives had to take priority. But it wasn't an easy choice to make.

"I'm sure Hannah's fine," Dieter said, pulling off his helmet as Markath brought the airmaker closer. "She's looking for a safe way up from the ruins we found, that's all."

It wasn't entirely convincing, but what could she ask for? Hannah would have to wait, no matter how painful that was.

"What happened here?" Amanda asked as they reached the makeshift airlock on the Outrider's hull. Someone had done a good job of setting it up under the circumstances, but it was clearly an improvised solution. The hull had torn under the falling rocks, and the crew had simply glued plastic sheeting over the openings to hold in the air. It didn't look like a solution that would last for long, and they had to have lost a lot of air while they were setting it up. Without an airmaker, she'd be surprised if they could last a week out here.

"I'm not sure exactly," Dieter said, and the gunman by his side muttered something under his breath. Dieter shot him a look and continued. "We found the ruins we were looking for, buried under the sand here. There's a way down into some caves by these rocks, we had our base set up there—"

"Then some damned alien stuff woke up," Jim added. "Set off a quake, collapsed some of the tunnels. And brought the rocks down on the Outrider, stranding us here. Fucking alien shit."

Amanda frowned. A Marsquake powerful enough to do this much damage was an unusual thing, but why would the alien technology have caused one? She promised herself she'd ask Markath when she had a chance, but for now there were more pressing matters to attend to. The pressure in the airlock equalized and the doors opened. Inside was darkness. Amanda switched on her suit's lamp and swore.

Of the twenty people who'd set out on this expedition, six were lying in bunks nursing various injuries in the dark. They all looked up at her and the others, smiles of relief blossoming on their faces. One, a tall blonde woman whose legs were both crudely splinted, started speaking in what Amanda thought was Russian. The others joined in, a confused mix of languages in which Amanda could hardly make out a single word.

Dieter interrupted her quickly, holding up his hands. "Shut up, everyone," he said, overriding the babble of greetings. "Maybe you remember Dr. Cain here: she's come to help. Along with, uh, one of our alien hosts."

Everyone fell silent except one man whose words faded into a litany of pained swearing. The blonde woman frowned and said something in Russian, and Dieter responded in the same language.

"That goes for all of you," he said, switching back to English. "Our sponsors are still sending a rescue party, but they might not be here for days yet. So Dr. Cain's help is very, very welcome. And yes, if any of you don't know, this is our Hannah's sister."

Turning to Amanda, he smiled. There was something guarded about his smile, something that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm going to go and check to see if there is any news at the dig site, maybe Hannah's found a way up or gotten into radio range. It's time to spell Jones anyway."

Amanda ground her teeth, wanting so badly to go with him. But this was a room full of casualties, people who'd only had simple first aid. She couldn't turn her back on them.

"Maybe Markath can help you? He knows more about the alien stuff than any human could, after all," she suggested. And he'd make finding Hannah a priority. I don't know how much effort you're putting into it, she added silently. There was no need to be rude about this, and Dieter had a lot on his plate too. She couldn't blame him for not risking his few healthy crew to search for Hannah, not really, but she wanted to.

"Your alien friend?" Dieter didn't sound as though he liked the idea, but he nodded reluctantly. "I suppose it can't hurt to see if he can help. Won't you need his assistance yourself, though?"

Amanda snorted. "He's not a nurse," she said. "He has no idea how to help me. Might be able to help move rocks, though."

"Alright," Dieter said, pursing his lips and looking unhappy. "I'll give you our radio frequency, if you need to get in touch just shout. It doesn't work underground, too much interference from the alien ruins, but as long as we're on the surface it's fine. If there's any word from Hannah, I'll let you know straight away, of course."

That last sounded like an afterthought, and Amanda knew that he didn't expect to have any news for her. But being able to contact him couldn't be a bad thing. She nodded, adding the frequency to her suit's radio.

Then she turned to her work. There was a lot to do, and not much time to do it.

Diving into the task at hand, she lost herself in it. The scavengers' injuries were severe and though the first aid they'd received had been competent, it was no more than that. Worst of all, they'd run out of pain medication. No wonder that some of them wouldn't stop swearing. Fortunately, Amanda had enough supplies to deaden the pain as well as treat the wounds. Even her supplies of painkillers wouldn't last long at the rate they were needed here, though.

Hours later she paused for the first time, sitting back and letting herself relax. Some of the injuries were bad enough that they really needed attention in a proper medical facility, but at least she could be confident that none of her patients would die before they could reach one. With any luck, at least. She didn't have the equipment here to run all the tests she wanted to.

Svetlana, the blonde Russian, had proved a useful assistant. She couldn't move, not with both her legs badly injured below the knee, but once her pain was under control she'd been able to pass Amanda the tools she needed. The sedatives Amanda had given each of the other patients had let them sleep, but Svetlana had refused to take hers while there was work to do. Someone, she insisted, had to help Amanda out.

Now that the work was done, she handed Amanda a flask of clean water and smiled

"Good? We'll all live?" Svetlana asked, and Amanda nodded, drinking deep. She wished it was something stronger, but right now wasn't the time.

"I think so. Yuri's the biggest risk, he's lost a lot of blood we can't replace. And I'm worried about Howard."

Svetlana grinned. "They have a chance, that's more than if you hadn't arrived, yes? Yuri... I thought he was done for."

He had been the worst of them, and was still the one in most danger. Something sharp had torn through his suit and he'd lost a lot of blood and air before his colleagues had dragged him into the ship. His wounds were a mess, and Amanda wasn't quite sure what could have caused them. Not that it mattered, as long as he lived. It was something of a miracle that he'd lasted until she arrived to help, and he really needed more blood than she'd brought with her. But he had a good chance, Amanda told herself. That was all she could give him.

"Are you two...?"

"Yuri is my brother," Svetlana said, taking back the water flask. "We came out here together early, before the aliens turned up. Did construction work back then, but there is more money in this."

"More risk too," Amanda pointed out. Svetlana shrugged, saying something in Russian and lying back. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, Amanda thought she was asleep. Then she spoke.

"There is always risk," she said quietly in English. "And we get to see alien technology before anyone else. Seems to have been a bad gamble this time, but that's the chance we take. I owe you Yuri's life, though; promise I'll repay that."

"He's not saved yet," Amanda said, sighing. "And I have my own sibling to find. If you feel you need to repay me, then help me rescue Hannah."

Svetlana tensed, muttering under her breath, and then shook her head. "Too dangerous to go after her, Doctor. You can't go down there."

"I have to. You would, if it was Yuri."

Svetlana's mouth twitched into a sad smile. "Yes, but I'm stupid. You're a doctor, meant to be smarter than me."

Amanda couldn't help laughing at that, but she shook her head. "I have to," she repeated.

"Doctor." Svetlana opened her eyes, fixing Amanda with a warning stare. "You have saved my brother and my friends. So please listen to me, do not go after your sister. It will not do you any good, or her."

"She's stuck under there, she could need medical attention, and your rescue team won't be here in time to save her."

Svetlana snorted. "Ah yes, the 'rescue' team. Much good they would do any of us, yes? If we waited for them, Yuri would be dead. Some of the others too, probably. For them it's not about us, Doctor, it's all about what we found and how much it's worth. Don't go looking, yes? Dieter... he's a good leader in lots of ways, but he's not a good man. If you count on his gratitude, you will find yourself disappointed."

"Then Hannah needs my help even more." Amanda stood up, pacing. She felt drained from the work, but her nerves wouldn't let her sit still. "How can you ask me to leave her be?"

Svetlana looked away, wincing as she moved. The painkillers must be wearing off, Amanda thought. "I cannot say more, Doctor. Just — please trust me, yes?"

With that she lay back and Amanda could get no more from her.